National Chemistry Week Runs Oct. 18-24 With Theme 'Chemistry Under Construction' as ACS Marks 150 Years
National Chemistry Week 2026 runs October 18-24, organized by the American Chemical Society (ACS) under the theme "Chemistry Under Construction," highlighting chemistry's role in the strength, safety and durability of everyday structures. The 2026 observance coincides with the 150th anniversary of the ACS, and the cover of this year's Celebrating Chemistry magazine builds a "150" statue from steel, brick and wood to show the chemical properties of each material.
According to the ACS, the performance of construction materials such as concrete, steel, glass and asphalt depends on their chemical composition: calcium silicates in cement give concrete its strength, while carbon and alloying elements shape the performance of steel, and small changes in composition can alter strength, curing time and resistance to weathering. The society notes that concrete is the second most consumed substance on Earth after water.
National Chemistry Week is a public awareness campaign run by the ACS to promote the value of chemistry in everyday life, with events coordinated by local sections and chemistry enthusiasts nationwide. The ACS says more than 89% of its local sections participate, Celebrating Chemistry reaches over 175,000 issues, and the campaign's reach exceeds 35 million. During the week, the society will host its "Program-in-a-Box" online event on the evening of October 21 to explore the chemistry behind construction materials.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 实验室用 Schlenk 烧瓶（资料照片）/Wikimedia Commons，作者 Ichwarsnur，授权 CC BY-SA 4.0 · Laboratory Schlenk flasks (file photo): Wikimedia Commons, by Ichwarsnur, CC BY-SA 4.0
